Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-07-28
CHAPTER xxx.
LIME TERRACE.

Just at the entrance of Clavering
stands row of very small picturesque
cottages, they are completely shaded
by great row of lime trees, whose
spreading boughs cover them-pretty
little houses, each with four small
rooms, and large windows, round which
white jaSimines and purple wistarias
grow. Each house has long strip OF
garden at the back, and gaily colored
flowers in the windows. The little row
of houses is known as Lime Terrace.
One ofthe cottages-the prettiest of
all, because 1t stood at the end of the
terrace and looked over the fine clover
meadows-had been empty for some
time, and this month of June IL was
taken. The duchess, as she drove
past, had more than once noticed the
exquisite cleanliness of No. 8 Lime
Terrace, its beautiful flowers, and the
look of refinement about 1t. The person
who had taken the house called herself
Mrs. Gray, and earned what seemed
to be an excellent livelihood by making
the most rare and beautiful point lace.
The curiosity of the neighbors on this
point was great: some said she could
earn hundreds Of pounds during the
year-that she worked founces Of
magnificent lace that were worth from
fifty to two hundred pounds each, aud
the neighbors were surprised. Her
hands were beautifully white and fine.
She had little girl from town to do all
.he work ofthe little house, and there
Mrs, Grey lived in peace and seclusion.
The only singular habit she had was
this--that she sat TO work at the win
dow of the upper room, not in the
pretty little parlor, which had been
made into a perfect bower of flowers,
but in the upper room, from the window
of which she could see far down the
high-road. For whomwas she always
waiting, always watching? fearful Of
losing her place for one minute, lest the
carriage should pass by? When the
young duchess drove down the high
road, with the two pretty ponies, an
extraordinary change came over her
the point lace would fall from her hands,
the very passion of love would shine
in her face and in her eyes; she would
tremble with emotion, and the word
that came fran her lips were always
my hearts desire. my hearts desired"
Then at times the carriage with its
magnificent pair of horses, with the
foot-man in livery, and best of all.
would pass. The sun must have blinded
her then, she shed so many tears.
During that month of June there were
very few days on which the carriage
did not pass three or four times; when
the plans for the hospital were accep-
ted and the building began, the duchess
never missed day. 1t was to be her
present to the town of Clavering. She
passed and rcpassed every day, and a
look of great peace came over the
woman's face; 1t grew more beautiful.
more pathetic every day, the look of
intense longing had died from 1t.
The tenants OF the little cottages
asked news from each other about
Mrs. Grey but there was no one to give
1t. They all agreed that although she
had to work hard for living, she was
a perfect lady. She was tall and grace
full; II was not often that they saw her
face, those who did so said that it was
beautiful but always sad. She had
wonderful eyes. with long black lashes.
and dark hair half bidder by the pretty
cap of point lace; she spoke kindly to
the neighbors of Lime Terrace, but she
never associated with them; at first
they resented il, but after time the
women fell into fashion of dropping
courtesics when they met her.
when she left her little cottage 1t was
always to go down the high-road az
far as the park gates, no further, aud
the beautiful wistful face would grow
sad or bright as her hearts desire was
given or refused. The duchess saw her
again and again; she had always a
kindly smile for her, the beauty, sad
ness, and refinement Of her face attract
ed her. She was driving with her
husband one day when they met Mrs.
Grey walking on the high-road.
''Fulke." cried the duchess, ''look;
that Is the woman ] was telling you
about-the one ] saw looking at the
blue bells through the park gates.
see her often about there"
"She has beautiful face" said the
duke, looking at her as the carriage
rolled by.
Mrs. Grey never omitted attending
the service at the parish church at
Clayering. There the whole of the
household from iie Castle attened